Iceland Painting and Photography Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

9″ x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel by Niki Gulley

 

Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 4 – Vatnajokull National Park

 

The next morning, we headed further east to the Vatnjokull National Park. Here we had several hours to hike and photograph the exotic scenery and another amazing waterfall before our drive to our hotel located near the glacier lagoons.

 
Iceland offers so many dramatic shifts in its terrain. Land of fire and ice! Today we encountered both, and so we set out to capture that contrast. Starting near a “dormant” volcanic area (at least the guide claimed it is only erupts every 40 years), below you can see the lava rock formations and above that the glacier arises through the mist. At least when we started painting we could see the icy top, but as fog does it continued to roll into our scene and obliterate our upper view. Glad we got it captured in our under painting before it disappeared!
 
 

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

 

***
 

 If you’re a painter, a photographer, a foodie or if you just want to come along for the fun-filled ride, join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks. Spaces fill up quickly, so let us know if you’re interested in this once in a lifetime experience!

 
 

Globe-Trotting Immersive Excursions for 

Artists, Foodies & Travelers

_________________________________________________

 
Switzerland Art Trek 
August 2026
Waitlist Available
 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 
Sept. 2027

 

A Few Spots Left! 
 

 

 
If you  have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

 
Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.
 
***
 
 

Iceland Art Trek with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

 

 
9″ x 12” textured acrylic painting by Niki Gulley
 

Iceland Art Trek… Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 3: Evening Location – Seljalandsfoss

For our next Iceland adventure, you guessed it – we visited another waterfall! This one is so magical and unique since you can walk behind the falls and peer out the cave as the water rushes from above crashing into the reservoir below. 
 
Talk about stepping into an enchanted land — The setting sun illuminates rock faces causing the ore to shimmer in golds and tangerines while cascading waters glisten like iridescent, liquid pearls. Giant, otherworldly plants fill the foreground like you’ve stepped into a fairytale from yesteryear. Our brushes and palette knives dance and skip in rhythmic waves as we capture that beauty before the final remnants of sunshine.
 
I hope you, too, can feel these cascades power and beauty.

 

 
 

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 
***
 

 Tuscany is always our most popular Foodie Trek as the food, wine, people, scenery and history are unparalleled. And, you’re in luck if you’ve always wanted to go! We’ve had two spots open up for our trip this fall and there are a couple of spots still open for 2026. Please let us know if you would like to join us!

 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 
2 Spots Left!
 
Switzerland Art Trek 
August 2026
Just A Few Spots left!
 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 
Sept. 2027
Registration Now Open
 
If you  have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

 
Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

Iceland Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop with Niki Gulley and Scott Williams

 

9″ x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel by Niki Gulley
 

Iceland Art Trek… Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 3: Afternoon Location – Turf Houses

 

Today we encountered a new challenge. How to capture sod-roofed houses set against grassy hills, built upon – you guessed it – more turf. That’s a lot of green upon green upon green! This Viking village dates back about 200 years, and it’s been preserved to it’s original state. Not something we see everyday, so we just had to do our best to capture it despite the green challenge. A good lesson in mixing colors, warmer in the foreground and cooler in the distance to help the background recede.
 
Meanwhile the photographers explored another waterfall nearby. While that cascade is smaller in stature, it is no less impressive. It tumbles down over the rocky mountain and empties into a river carving its way through the lush, craggy valley below.
 
 
 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
 
***

 

 Tuscany is always our most popular Foodie Trek as the food, wine, people, scenery and history are unparalleled. And, you’re in luck if you’ve always wanted to go! We’ve had two spots open up for our trip this fall and there are a couple of spots still open for 2026. Please let us know if you would like to join us!

 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 
2 Spots Left!
 
Switzerland Art Trek 
August 2026
Just A Few Spots left!
 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 
Sept. 2027
Registration Now Open
 
If you  have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

 
Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

 

“Black Beach Glow” Palette Knife Painting of Iceland by Niki Gulley

  

“Black Beach Glow” ©2026 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 5″ x 7” textured oil painting

Iceland Art Trek… Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 2: Afternoon Location – Black Beach & Puffins

On our second afternoon in Iceland, we set out to find adorable puffins diving off cliffs to capture their morning’s catch. After that we visited the Black Beach where the rock formations and caves were formed out of black lava. Giant basalt columns stacked one right after the other dominate the shoreline. I wanted to capture their texture and the peaceful glow as the sun rose on the horizon in this little painting. 

 

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 

 

*** 

 Tuscany is always our most popular Foodie Trek as the food, wine, people, scenery and history are unparalleled. And, you’re in luck if you’ve always wanted to go! We’ve had two spots open up for our trip this fall and there are a couple of spots still open for 2026. Please let us know if you would like to join us!

 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 
2 Spots Left!
 
Switzerland Art Trek 
August 2026
Just A Few Spots left!
 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 
Sept. 2027
Registration Now Open
 
If you  have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

 
Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.
 
***
 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

Painting Lighthouse in Iceland with Contemporary Impressionist Niki Gulley

 

“Lighting the Way” ©2026 Niki Gulley
9″ x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel
 
Iceland Art Trek: Plein Air Painting and Photography Workshop led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 2 – Vik

 

Scott and I absolutely love lighthouses. Beacons of hope. Lighting the way. Each one unique architecturally, honoring its heritage and traditions. So, on our Iceland Art Trek that we just led, our students and us were excited to set up our easels / tripods and capture this striking beauty perched high about the ocean on the south coast. It was a gorgeous day to paint – sunny and 70 degrees! In Iceland!!! So, we took full advantage of that. The sun rising on the horizon added another ray of hope, and I enjoyed playing one light source off the other. I hope you enjoy the view, too, and feel the warmth lighting your path!
 

 

 
 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

 ***


 Tuscany is always our most popular Foodie Trek as the food, wine, people, scenery and history are unparalleled. And, you’re in luck if you’ve always wanted to go! We’ve had two spots open up for our trip this fall and there are a couple of spots still open for 2026. Please let us know if you would like to join us!

 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 
2 Spots Left!
 
Switzerland Art Trek 
August 2026
Just A Few Spots left!
 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 
Sept. 2027
Registration Now Open
 
If you  have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

 
Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

 

Waterfall Palette Knife Painting from Iceland by Niki Gulley

  

9″ x 12” textured acrylic painting on canvas panel by Niki Gulley
 
Iceland Art Trek – Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop
Led by Niki Gulley and Scott Williams
Day 1 – Skogafoss

 

What a glorious way to start our Iceland Art Trek! First stop, Skogafoss, a massive, powerful waterfall that’s carved its way through ancient moss covered lava rocks. Truly inspiring and just what we needed to refresh our souls! Surrounded by lush grassy mountains, this cascade surges downward with such force and power. Today we set up our easels to capture the energy and flow of the water. Creating strokes in diagonal sweeping shapes to enhance that feeling of movement and rhythm, I hope you, too, can hear the flowing water’s music and feel the gentle spray from its mist.
 
 
To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.
 
 
 
 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/
 
 
*** 

 Tuscany is always our most popular Foodie Trek as the food, wine, people, scenery and history are unparalleled. And, you’re in luck if you’ve always wanted to go! We’ve had two spots open up for our trip this fall and there are a couple of spots still open for 2026. Please let us know if you would like to join us!

 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 
2 Spots Left!
 
Switzerland Art Trek 
August 2026
Just A Few Spots left!
 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 
Sept. 2027
Registration Now Open
 
If you  have any questions or would like to register, please contact Scott at photoguy@blind-squirrel.org or 214-289-8512.

Visit ArtTreks.org for more details on all of our trips.

 
Check out our review page on TripAdvisor and feel free to leave one of your own.

New “Playtime” Palette Knife Painting by Niki Gulley

 

“Playtime” ©2026 Niki Gulley
14″ x 11″ textured acrylic painting on canvas

Filled with whimsy and movement, I hope “Playtime” captures the memories of swinging from sturdy branches on a lazy summer day. Using staccato strokes, adds to the energy of the moment while fun pops of color build excitement. Not a care in the world, I hope you can feel the joy as you fly high and soar on a dream. 

 

To view more of my palette knife impressionist landscape paintings, check out nikigulley.com.

 

 

Or, e-mail me at Niki Gulley for more information.
 
 

https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/

 

“Meandering Meadow” Painting Bursting with Colorful Wildflowers by Niki Gulley


“Meandering Meadow” ©2026 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 16″ x 20″ textured acrylic painting on canvas
 

 

 

Just sold! I’m having so much fun painting in Asheville’s certified pollinator habitat – surrounded by actual wildflowers while painting wildflowers! The purple spires you see dancing in the foreground are the real deal, keeping me company while I work.

 

 

This piece is all about capturing that feeling of wandering through a summer meadow where every color of the rainbow seems to be blooming at once. My palette knife allows me to build up those chunky, textured strokes that make the flowers feel dimensional and alive. I love how the painting evolves as I work – sometimes a stroke of yellow becomes a sunflower, sometimes purple becomes a spike of salvia.

 

For details on more of wildflower or North Carolina paintings, please e-mail Niki Gulley.

 

Or, check out my website at nikigulley.com to see more of my contemporary landscape palette knife paintings.

 
https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/
 

  

“Cypress Serenade” Art from the Tuscan Countryside by Niki Gulley

 

 
“Cypress Serenade” ©2026 Niki Gulley 
9″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas panel
 
I painted “Cypress Serenade” on location in Tuscany. I’ve always been attracted to this lone grouping of cypress trees and on this day the clouds in the sky were so fascinating. Hugging so close to the ground, soft and voluminous, acting as the perfect backdrop behind the cypress grove, I had to capture their drama before they disappeared. Wildflowers blooming in the foreground set the stage and I decided to have fun by repeating those colors throughout the scene, adding to the excitement and energy of the moment.

***

 
Iceland Art Trek
August 2026
FULL
 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 
Sept. 2026
Only 4 Spaces Left!

Switzerland Art Trek 
August 2026
Just A Few Spots left!
 
Tuscany Foodie Trek 
Sept. 2027
Registration Now Open
 
 
If you’d like to join us on one of upcoming Art Treks or Foodie Treks, please let us know. 
 
For more information on upcoming Art Treks, visit http://www.ArtTreks.org.

 

***
 
https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/
 
 
***

Please check out my website at NikiGulley.com, NikiGulley.com to see more of my impressionistic palette knife paintings.

 

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary Italy and European paintings.

New Van Gogh Inspired Sunflower Painting by Asheville Artist Niki Gulley

 

“Sunny Setting II” ©2026 Niki Gulley
24″ x 12″ textured acrylic painting on canvas 
I had so much fun painting these colorful flowers from our deck last week, that creating just one canvas wasn’t enough! Filled with so much uplifting color and cheer, the blooms led my palette knife to joyfully skip across the canvas capturing their sunshine. Surprising pops of color peek through so every time you gaze into this one, you discover something new. Set against the gorgeous mountain backdrop, dramatic clouds dance overhead and hopefully all of your cares drift away!

•••

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on my sunflower and wildflower fields paintings.

To see more of my contemporary impressionistic landscape paintings, visit nikigulley.com.

 https://www.instagram.com/nikigulley/